Floor lamp guide light



Nov. 7, 1950 J. SAMSON FLOOR LAMP GUIDE LIGHT Filed Aug. 9, 1948 INVENTOR. JOSfPH S/l/V'O/V B-Y Z A TTOENEK l 'atenteci Nov. 7, 1950 FLOOR LAMP GUIDE LIGHT Joseph Samson, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to himself and Harvey Masonek, San Francisco,

Calif., jointly Application August 9, 1948, Serial No. 43,332

2 Claims.

The invention, in general, relates to the art of illumination and more particularly relates to floor lamp construction and associated light circuit.

While not directly related or analogous to the present invention, there have been, heretofore, developments in various types of fioor lamp structures with so-called night lights which, in general, utilize incandescent lamps for the desired night light. A majority of the more recently marketed floor lamps incorporating the night light feature employ some type of luminous surface, such as tenite, onyx or other like surface, in conjunction with a lamp or bulb of relatively high wattage. All such prior structures require a, second or auxiliary switch that controls the night light independently of the main lamps which are regulated and controlled by the main switch of the floor lamp. In ad dition to the increased manufacturing costs involved in' the provision of'th'ese prior night light types of floor lamps, the prior structures have many disadvantages including the generation of appreciable heat which creates a fire hazard, as well as too intense illumination to the discomfort and annoyance of other occupants of the room desirous of sleeping. Moreover, the night light feature is restricted to 'floor lamp construction embodyin tenite, onyx or like luminous surface for effecting reflection. The present invention, essentially, is directed to the provision of a floor lamp guide light assembly enabling not only the ready location in a dark room or space of the floor lamp per se, but of the main switch thereof and, moreover, obviates the many disadvantages of prior floor lamp structures including those specifically referred to hereinabove.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved floor lamp guide light affording positive directional or locational lighting at all times in a structure that does not detract from the appearance of the room in which it is disposed.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a floor lamp guide light of the indicated nature which is additionally characterized by its adaptability to all types of fioor lamps, which can be manufactured inexpensively, and which requires a minimum of expense to maintain.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved floor lamp guide light of the aforementioned character which is durable and which can'be employed for appreciably andxprotruding through'said opening,

2; longer periods of time, and which can be used without discomfort or annoyance to; other occupants of a room in which the lamp is placed.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a preferred and a modified embodiment of the invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that I am not to be limited to the precise embodiments shown, nor .to the precise arrangement of the various parts thereof, as my invention, as defined in the appended claims, can be embodied in a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. v1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. Z'is an enlarged detail illustrating a mounting means for a principal element of the pre ferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is .a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuit embodied in the preferred and modified embodiments of the invention.

.In its preferred form, the improved floor lamp guide light of the present invention preferably comprisesa hollow .memberof a floor lamp struce ture, said member having an opening therein, a neon bulb nestedwithin said hollow member together with :anenergizedi electrical circuit for the lamp "containing said :neon'ibulb which is constantly energized. A .typicabupper' assembly of a conventional floor lamp structure is depicted in Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings which exemplifies a preferred embodiment-of the present invention. This -assembly includes .a reflector bowl H mounted on a mogul:socketv [-2 which is integral .with a cluster, designated generally by the reference numeral :il 3, consisting of :a central hollow member l4 iand a plurality -:of .socket holders IS, F! and 18 joined to the member 14 by means of hollow stems :19, 20 and 21, respectively. The central hollow member I 4 of the cluster [3 serves as a nesting chamber =or housing for collected portions of various electrical "conduits which serve the various sockets 0f the floor lamp, in,- eluding-the mogul socket .112, and the hollow member lidal'so serves as 'a mounting for a main switch actuated by :the knob 22. A three-way mogul switch, actuated by .kncb123, is mounted 'as is customary' 'on the mogul'socket 312 for regulatin theJintenS'itypfthe light emanating from a lamp, not shown, fitted to the mogul socket.

While not shown in the fragmentary view of Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the cluster I3 is detachably secured as a unit to a standard 26, usually by threaded engagement therewith which is housed in a tubing 21. A floor lamp base, not shown, receives the lower threaded end of the standard 26 in a central, internally threaded socket, also not shown, of the base. It is to be understood that the showing of Fig. 1 is solely for purposes of an explanation of the present improvement, as exemplified in a typical floor lamp assembly, and that my invention is entirely central bore therein, designated by the reference numeral 49. The block 48 seats upon a spring 5| disposed between the end of sleeve 41 and the bottom of the block 48, as shown, the spring 5| urging the block outwardly. A contact 52 is embedded in the outer face of block 48 and another contact 53 is secured to the outside of the sleeve 41. The sleeve 41 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed right angle slots 54 for passing the pins 56 carried on the metal base of the bulb 3|, as shown in full and dotted lines suitable for adaptation in substantially all types of floor lamp structures regardless of variations in lamp element assemblies.

In accordance with my invention, a neon bulb 3|, preferably of approximately /25 watt capacity, is mounted on the central hollow member M of the cluster [3 of the floor lamp, and connected into the main electrical circuit, see Fig. 4, for the lamp as hereinafter explained. The mounting of the neon bulb 3| on member M of the cluster is such that a major portion: of the' bulb lies within the cluster or hollow interior of the member l4 thereof but a portion of the bulb 3| protrudes externally thereof through an opening 32 formed in the member M. The location of opening 32 in member I4 is not critical although for practical purposes such opening should be in close proximity to the main lamp switch knob 22 of the floor lamp so that the knob can be more readily located by the hand. Electrodes 33 and 34 of the neon bulb, see Fig. 4

of the annexed drawings, are connected across electrical conductors 36 and 31 of an electrical circuit including a source of alternating current, a floor outlet, a standard floor plug, all not shown, with conductors 36 and 31. connected to the floor plug. To regulate the voltage and. current through neon bulb 3|, an approximately 200,000 ohm resistor 38 is connected in series with the neon bulb across conductors 36 and 31. Under this arrangement, the neon bulb 3| remains constantly energized during supply of alternating current and with the floor plug connected into the floor outlet of the alternating current circuit, regardless of actuation of main floor lamp switch 22, and mogul switch 23.5. Undernormaloonditions of operation, the'neon bulb 3| will have a life of approximately 25,000. hours beforeiit need be replaced. A wiringdiagra'mof a portion of the electrical circuit employed in both modifications is shown in Fig. f1, omitting. the floor outlet and fioor plug as :well as omitting the mogul three-way switch 23. and the lamp of the mogul socket i2. As shown, the main lamp switch 22 is energized and de-energized independently for lighting and shutting ofi lamps 4|, 42 and 43 contained. in the sockets of socket holders |6, l1 and I8, respectively, such switch 22 not in any way controlling the energization of neon bulb 3| since the latter is constantly energized directly from thealternating current source and remains lighted while the main circuit is closed.

In Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, I have depicted in enlarged detail typical mounting means for the neon bulb 3| on the cluster I3 of the floor lamp, such mounting means being merely suggestive. As shown, I provide a flanged tube '46 of electrical insulation material, such as bakelite, which. removably receives. a metal sleeve. 41 of electrically conductive material and in which is slidably mounted a cor'itact'block--48 having a in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The full line showing of neon bulb 3| depicts the bulb in fixed, operative position with the pins 58 thereof held in the slots 54 of the sleeve 41. Whenever it is desired to remove the bulb 3|, it is first rotated slightly to bring the pins 56 into legs 54' of the slots 54, and the bulb 3| may then be withdrawn from the mounting means. To seat the bulb in operative position, the pins 56 on the base of the bulb are first aligned with legs '54 of the slots 54 of the sleeve 41 and the bulb then moved into the sleeve to bear on the contact block 48, thereby compressing the spring 5| so that the pins 56,103.11 clear legs 54 of the slots 54, whereafter by a slight rotation of the bulb 3| the pins 56 thereof are brought into the other legs of slots 54, as shown. The bulb 3| is then released and will stay secured in its mounting means,;with. the block 48 pressed against the base of the bulb under the tension or influence of spring 5|. Suit:- able small screws. 51 are provided for securing the flanges of tube 46 and the tube itself to the hollow member IA of the cluster l3 of the floor lamp. Electrical conductors 5B and 59 are con nected to the contacts 52 and 53, respectively, on the contact block 48 and sleeve 41; suitable openings being formed in the sleeve and tube 46 for passing such conductors which are, in turn,'con

nected to the cord of. the floor plug, not shown,

to connect the electrodes of the bulb 3|: into the electrical circuit. The resistor 38, above men tioned, is of course'also connected into this circuit, although not shown in Fig. 2.

In order to decrease the intensity of the light emanating from bulb 3| toan extent vdesired as well as. to. afford any desired color of light, I provide a translucent cap 6| for the protruding dome portion of bulb 3|., the cap easily being held on such domeportion after it is slipped thereoverand the cap, as stated abovaibeing of any desired colorto afford a desired colored light from the 'neon bulb 3|.

A modified embodiment of'the present ll'lVEl'i: tion is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings where+ in I have depicted, in fragmentary view; a conventional upright or standard i25-ofthe usual floor lamp structure which is housed Within a hollow :member or tubing I21 ofthe conventional floor lamp. It is to be understood, of course, that the upright or standard I26 is threaded'at its: top and bottom for removably mounting a cluster or other element on the top of theupright, and for removablv fitting the standard to a base,-not shown. The) tubing orhollow member |21 is, in effect-a conduit forpass'ing the electrical conductors leading fron'r'a source of 'elec+ trical energy to the sockets, not shown, in which lamps are fitted. In accordance. with this modific'ation, a neon bulb |3|, which is in all respects similar to the neon bulb 3| of the preferred em bodiment of the invention, isremovably mounted on and partially nested-withinthe hollow mem ber l2! by means ofsuitable mounting elements including a tube .l'flegwiththe nose or dome portion of the neon bulb extending externally of tubing I2! through an opening I32 formed therein. The electrodes of the neon bulb I3I are connected across electrical leads I36 and I31 of the alternating current circuit supplying the lamp, and an approximately 200,000 ohm resistor I38 is interposed in the circuit in series with bulb I3I. In this modification, I preferably form the mounting tube I46 with a pair of arcuate extensions I 25 which encircle the standard I26 partially and serve as clips for securing the tube I46 in position and for holding the same, together with neon bulb I3I firmly in operative position; the arcuate extensions I45 being of spring metal or the like and therefore being adapted to be readily slipped over and withdrawn directly from the standard I26.

It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents commensurate in scope with the advance made over the prior art.

I claim:

1. A floor lamp guide light comprising, in combination, a floor lamp structure including a vertically disposed tubing having an inlet, an outlet and an opening through the wall thereof, a vertically disposed standard housed within said tubing and spaced from the Wall thereof, electrical conductors housed in said tubing and leading from the inlet through the outlet thereof for conducting electrical energy to the globes of the floor lamp, a neon bulb connected across said conductors for constant energization independently of the energization of the lamp globes, and,

means including at least one clip partially encircling said standard for removably mounting said bulb on said tubing with a portion of the bulb extending externally of the tubing through said opening.

2. A floor lamp guide light comprising, in combination, a floor lamp structure including a vertically disposed tubing having an inlet, an outlet, and an opening through the wall thereof, electrical conductors housed in said tubing and leading through said inlet and extending from said outlet for conducting electrical energy to the globes of the lamp, a sleeve secured within said tubing, a neon bulb removably mounted in said sleeve and extending externally of said tubing through said opening, and means connecting the electrodes of said neon bulb across said electrical conductors for efiecting constant energization of said bulb independent of the energization of the globes of the lamp.

JOSEPH SAMSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Number Name Date 2,012,413 Winkler Aug. 27, 1935 2,015,724 Meyer Oct. 1, 1935 2,445,079 Petersdorf July 13, 1948 

